OCTC Pediatric Nursing NSG 213
Pediatric Nursing Quiz 2: From Toddlers to Adolescents
Master essential pediatric concepts covering growth, development, safety, and major theories across toddler, preschool, school age, and adolescent phases. Perfect for nursing students preparing for NCLEX and clinical practice.
What You'll Master in This Comprehensive Quiz
Developmental Milestones
Explore physical, cognitive, and psychosocial milestones from toddlerhood through adolescence. Understand typical growth patterns and recognize developmental red flags for each age group.
Age-Specific Safety
Learn critical safety interventions for each developmental stage, from preventing toddler injuries to addressing adolescent risk behaviors. Master essential patient education topics for families.
Theoretical Frameworks
Apply Erikson's psychosocial stages, Piaget's cognitive development theory, and Kohlberg's moral reasoning to pediatric nursing assessments and interventions across all age groups.
This quiz prepares you for NCLEX questions and real-world clinical scenarios you'll encounter in pediatric settings. Master these concepts to provide developmentally appropriate, evidence-based nursing care.
Toddler Phase (Ages 1-3): Development & Safety
Chapter 9: Toddlers & Preschoolers
Understand the unique health needs, behavioral patterns, and developmental challenges of children ages 1-5 years.
Growth & Motor Development
  • Weight gain of 4-6 pounds annually, with weight quadrupling by age 2
  • Height increases approximately 3 inches per year
  • Runs, climbs stairs (two feet per step), kicks balls
  • Fine motor skills develop: stacking blocks (6+ by age 2)
Cognitive & Language
  • Vocabulary explosion: 300+ words by age 2
  • Simple sentences form ("Want juice")
  • Follows two-step directions
Erikson's Stage: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt
Toddlers strive for independence in basic skills like feeding and dressing, leading to the characteristic "terrible twos" with frequent use of "No!" and "Mine!" This stage builds the foundation for self-control and willpower.
Critical Safety Focus
  • Rear-facing car seats until at least 24 months
  • Childproofing environment to prevent falls, poisoning
  • Constant supervision around water
Preschool Phase (Ages 3-5): Imagination & Social Growth
Physical Development
Growth slows to 2-3 inches and 4-5 pounds annually. Coordination improves dramatically – preschoolers can hop on one foot, use scissors, dress themselves, and demonstrate handedness preference.
Piaget's Preoperational Stage
Characterized by symbolic thinking, magical reasoning, and egocentrism. Children engage in pretend play, struggle to see others' perspectives, and often confuse appearance with reality. They believe in magical thinking and anthropomorphism.
Erikson: Initiative vs. Guilt
Children assert power through play, questioning, and social interaction. They initiate activities and develop purpose. Excessive criticism can lead to guilt about their actions and desires, affecting self-confidence.
Safety Priorities
Focus on poison prevention (lock medications, household chemicals), water safety (constant supervision), stranger danger education, and continued car seat use based on height/weight requirements.
School Age (Ages 6-12): Building Competence
Chapter 10: School-Age Children
Explore the physical growth, cognitive development, and common health concerns of children ages 6-12 years.
Physical Growth
Children grow approximately 2.5 inches annually and gain 4.5-7 pounds per year. They lose primary teeth and gain permanent teeth. Physical coordination improves significantly, enabling complex activities like team sports.
Piaget: Concrete Operations
Children develop logical thinking about concrete events, understand conservation of mass and volume, and classify objects by multiple attributes.
Erikson: Industry vs. Inferiority
Children develop competence and self-confidence through academic achievement, skill mastery, and peer relationships.
Safety Education
Focus on bike helmets, water safety, fire safety, and healthy habits to prevent childhood obesity.
Adolescence (Ages 13-18): Forming Identity
Chapter 11: Adolescents
Address the complex physical, emotional, and social changes that occur during the teenage years, including risk assessment and preventive care.
Physical Changes
Puberty brings rapid growth spurts (3-4 inches/year), sexual maturation, and development of secondary sex characteristics. Girls typically begin development 1-2 years before boys.
Cognitive Development
Piaget's Formal Operational Stage enables abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and understanding complex scientific and moral concepts.
Identity Formation
Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion stage involves teens establishing personal values, career interests, and social identity separate from parents.
Moral Development
Kohlberg's theory shows progression from conventional morality (following rules) to post-conventional reasoning based on ethical principles.
Safety concerns shift to risk-taking behaviors, mental health issues, substance abuse, and sexual health. Nursing interventions focus on confidential counseling, screening, and education about consequences of choices.
Key Developmental Theories in Pediatric Nursing
Erikson's Psychosocial Theory
Focuses on emotional and social development through eight life crises. For pediatrics, key stages include: Autonomy vs. Shame (toddlers), Initiative vs. Guilt (preschool), Industry vs. Inferiority (school age), and Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescents).
Piaget's Cognitive Theory
Describes how children think and process information differently at various ages: Sensorimotor (0-2), Preoperational (2-7), Concrete Operational (7-11), and Formal Operational (12+). Each stage requires different teaching approaches.
Kohlberg's Moral Development
Explains how moral reasoning evolves from obedience-based (Pre-conventional) to social norms (Conventional) to abstract principles (Post-conventional). Guides understanding of how children make ethical decisions.
Nursing Interventions by Developmental Stage
1
Toddler Interventions
  • Offer limited choices to reduce power struggles ("Do you want the red cup or blue cup?")
  • Educate parents on toilet training readiness signs
  • Demonstrate childproofing techniques
  • Use simple language and concrete explanations
2
Preschool Interventions
  • Use therapeutic play to prepare for procedures
  • Allow medical equipment exploration through play
  • Provide simple, honest explanations about health
  • Support parents in answering "why" questions
3
School Age Interventions
  • Involve children in care decisions when appropriate
  • Teach body systems and health promotion
  • Use diagrams and models for explanations
  • Respect growing need for privacy
4
Adolescent Interventions
  • Ensure confidentiality within legal limits
  • Address patient directly, not just parents
  • Screen for depression, substance use, and risk behaviors
  • Discuss long-term health consequences of choices
Age-Specific Safety Priorities
9K+
Toddler ER Visits
Daily emergency visits for injuries in children under 4, primarily from falls, poisoning, and choking. Nursing priority: teach proper car seat use (rear-facing until 2) and childproofing.
3,600
Preschool Poisonings
Annual poisoning cases in preschoolers requiring medical attention. Focus on keeping medications and chemicals locked away, teaching water safety, and appropriate supervision.
19%
School Age Obesity
Percentage of children ages 6-11 with obesity. Nurses should focus on diet education, encouraging physical activity, addressing screen time, and promoting healthy sleep habits.
37%
Teen Mental Health
Adolescents reporting poor mental health. Nursing interventions include screening for depression, substance abuse prevention, and promoting healthy coping strategies.
Sample Quiz Questions Preview
Toddler Development
At what age should a child typically switch from rear-facing to forward-facing car seat?
  1. 12 months
  1. 18 months
  1. 24 months
  1. 36 months
Correct answer: C. 24 months
Preschool Cognition
Which play type is characteristic of Piaget's Preoperational Stage?
  1. Parallel play
  1. Symbolic play
  1. Cooperative play
  1. Sensorimotor play
Correct answer: B. Symbolic play
School Age Development
Which Erikson stage focuses on developing competence and self-confidence through achievement?
  1. Trust vs. Mistrust
  1. Autonomy vs. Shame
  1. Initiative vs. Guilt
  1. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct answer: D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Adolescent Moral Development
According to Kohlberg, reasoning based on universal ethical principles represents which level of moral development?
  1. Pre-conventional
  1. Conventional
  1. Post-conventional
  1. Concrete operational
Correct answer: C. Post-conventional
Ready to Test Your Pediatric Nursing Knowledge?
Comprehensive Coverage
Our complete Pediatric Nursing Quiz 2 covers all essential concepts from toddler through adolescent development. Test your understanding of growth patterns, developmental milestones, safety concerns, and theoretical frameworks.
Detailed Rationales
Each question includes comprehensive explanations for both correct and incorrect answers. Understand not just what the right answer is, but why it's correct and how to apply this knowledge in clinical settings.
Study Community
Share your quiz results with peers and challenge classmates to beat your score. Join our nursing student community to discuss difficult concepts and share study tips for mastering pediatric development.